Cessna 170B accident near Jefferson, Oregon, August 19, 2011
On August 19, 2011 at about 2:45 am local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N2789D, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Jefferson, Oregon (Jefferson airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power transmission lines during the landing approach into the sun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 2011 · about 2:45 am local time
- Place
- Jefferson, Oregon · Jefferson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2789D · no longer on the register · serial 25331
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing on a grass field toward the west just prior to sunset. During the final approach, about 30 feet above ground level, he became aware of power transmission lines directly ahead. The airplane struck the lines and descended to the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence, and the pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. According to the United States Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department, the altitude and azimuth of the sun at 1940 in the closest town were 5 degrees and 283.4 degrees, respectively. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. He stated that this was the first time he had flown to this location, and that he did not overfly the field or perform a thorough review of the area prior to attempting the landing.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Response/compensation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Glare › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 253 hours in all; 190 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 210 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 5, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,553 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 2011; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C145 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S12 Albany OR
- Destination: PVT Jefferson OR
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 am from KSLE, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.